Effects of fire intensity on soil chemistry in a eucalypt forest

Abstract

Soil samples taken in the Wombat State Forest in Victoria, at depths of 0-2, 2-5, and 5-10 cm before and after burning fuel loads of 0 (unburnt control), 15, 50, 150, and 300 t ha-1were analysed for pH, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity, available and totalP, organic carbon and soil moisture, over a 2-year, 2000 mm rainfall period. Short termresponses (up to6months) occurred in levels of exchangeable NH4, K+, and Mg2+, and longterm changes (2 years or longer) over the period of the study were observed for pH, availableand total P and exchangeable Ca2+at the 0-2 cm soil depth for the burnt treatments. Following burning (and 108 mm of rain), changes in soil chemical parameters ..